Florida Universities Set to Hike Out-of-State Tuition for First Time in a Decade

Lake County, Florida, USA - Florida’s public universities are gearing up for a significant change in tuition for out-of-state students. In a decision made by the Board of Governors, these institutions are now permitted to increase out-of-state student fees, marking the first such hike in over a decade. Alan Levine, Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, has noted that the plan is to introduce these changes gradually, minimizing any “sticker shock” that current students might face. The adjustments could raise fees by as much as 10% this fall and potentially up to 15% by fall 2026, as reported by CF Public.

Currently, each university’s board of trustees will have the authority to decide on the specific fee increases, keeping in mind a crucial requirement: any hike must maintain the existing ratio of in- to out-of-state students. This means that while out-of-state enrollment can increase, it must be balanced by a corresponding rise in in-state enrollment. The new guidelines apply to both undergraduate and graduate students, raising questions about affordability and competitiveness.

Background and Impact

Notably, Florida has traditionally offered competitive tuition rates, currently boasting the third lowest out-of-state undergraduate fees in the U.S. at an average of $21,690 for the 2023-2024 academic year. This figure is roughly 28% lower than the national average of $30,140, according to WGCU. In addition, the University of South Florida provides the lowest fees, with undergraduate rates at $346.50 per credit hour.

Analysis from financial experts suggests that if universities opt for maximum increases, the additional revenue could reach nearly $72.5 million from undergraduate tuition and about $32.6 million from graduate tuition by 2026. This comes at a time when the demand from out-of-state students has been on the rise, with enrollment of non-resident undergraduates jumping from 4.9% in 2012 to over 11.3% in 2023. Graduate student numbers have seen a similar increase, up from 26.3% to 33.5% in the same timeframe, as highlighted by WUSF.

Concerns and Considerations

While the proposed increases promise a financial boon for Florida’s educational institutions, concerns have been raised by some board members. Eric Silagy pointed out the potential pitfalls of allowing maximum increases for certain universities, especially those that do not comply with state law regarding tuition offsets for out-of-state students. For instance, New College of Florida receives over $82,000 in state funding per student, in stark contrast to the $19,000 spent on a student at the University of Florida.

Additionally, Governor Ron DeSantis has reiterated a commitment to keeping in-state tuition stable. Since his administration began, he has ensured there have been no increases, which puts pressure on maintaining affordability for in-state students while navigating the complexities of this new out-of-state tuition structure.

As the new fee structures roll out, questions linger about their long-term effects on Florida’s appeal to out-of-state students. How these changes will balance the need for additional revenue against the commitment to maintaining the quality and accessibility of education remains to be seen. The coming academic year promises to be an interesting one for Florida’s universities and their students, both local and from afar.